Main Discussion Area > Bows

How thin is too thin for a Hickory backing?

(1/3) > >>

barebo:
How thin is too thin for a Hickory backing on a quarter sawn Hard Maple core?

willie:
hard to say, maybe a thin as you can work with? depends I guess on why you think you need a backing on the quartersawn hard maple?

Hamish:
I've never seen anyone use less than 1/8".  Whatever is the minimum amount that will work, I don't know. What I do know is that the wood still needs to be straight grained, or you are wasting your time and materials.

Much of it comes down to what tools/machines you have access to. Most thickness planers won't go much under 1/8", due to safety and the strips internal integrity, before it gets chewed up.
Thinner pieces can be done safely if you have a thickness sander/drum sander.

You could feasibly laminate a backing, using 2-3 thin strips, say 1/16", and get a finished backing 1/8" - 3/16" thick.

barebo:
I haven't posted here literally in years - life happens. I was talking to a fellow and mentioned that I had made a decent number of bows since '99. He said he'd love a longbow.
I had this 3/4 x 2 x 72" Maple blank and 3 nice straight grained Hickory backings. I decided to try an American longbow. 1 1/2" wide limb to 18" tapered to 7/16" tips so far. 70" NTN.
Backing glued on with Titebond 3.

I have it tillered nicely to 18" and it seems to be about 65# or so. I know Hickory is tension strong and don't want to overpower or chrysal / fret the Maple belly. Holding 1" of reflex. I sanded the Hickory that was just 1/8" down a 32nd and trapped the back but even scraping 25 or 30 strokes, she's stubborn to come down in weight. Looking for 45 -47#@28".

Love to get pics but have to figure out how to downsize them. I used a 3/4"x10" riser block of Honduran Rosewood with a 1/4x6" knife scale of Black Limba over that for the grip - not shaped yet, and have the Limba tip overlays on.

I could have just used the Maple without the backing but I remember Mark Baker made some Hickory backed Maple longbows that were pretty snappy so giving it a go.
After not making shavings for a long spell at 67 with a bum hand it sure feels good!

Pat B:
You could probably go a 16th under 1/8" for the hickory backing with no problems. I've never had a hickory backing overpower a belly slat and I've made a bunch of hickory backed bows. If you find the maple belly is getting too thin but is still too stiff you can narrow the width a bit to help reduce weight.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page